WARREN ó Local search and rescue teams swiftly responded to a dropped call for help placed by a couple of Burlington hikers who managed to make it safely off Camelís Hump without any assistance over the weekend.

According to state police, Jay Blanchard and Christina Sweet were hiking on Camelís Hump when Blanchard dialed 911 shortly before 6:30 p.m. to report that he and his partner were lost. The call lasted 12 seconds and was dropped when the hikers lost cell service before dispatchers were able to obtain any more information.

Police said repeated attempts to call Blanchard back were unsuccessful but that cellphone coordinates placed the call on or near the Long Trail in the Sugarbush area.

Searchers checked the area of the cellphone coordinates but were unable to find Blanchard or Sweet, while police tried without success to locate their vehicle in one of the trailhead parking areas for Camelís Hump.

Police learned why when they got a call from Blanchard shortly after searching a section of the Long Trail. Blanchard told police that he and Sweet were able to find their way back to their vehicle but did not have cell service for quite some time before being able to call police to say they were safe.